U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, today expressed hope that a peace deal signed by the largest Darfur rebel group and the Government of Sudan could end the suffering in the region. Smith noted that the accord, which was brokered by the African Union (AU) and the international community, also could speed the augmentation of the AU force in Darfur.

    “It is my hope that this peace agreement is the first step toward peace and stability in Dafur,” said Smith, who led a mission to refugee camps in Darfur and met face-to-face with President Bashir this past August. “I commend Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick’s steadfast leadership in working with the AU, UK, Canada and the EU to gain the respect of all sides in the negotiations.” 

    Smith cautioned that while the Minni Minawi-led faction of the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM) – the strongest of the armed forces fighting the government – has signed the peace accord, the SLM faction led by Abdelwahid Muhamed El Nur and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has refused to do so. 

    In the weeks just before the agreement was signed, SLM-Minawi expressed optimism about the potential for success in the negotiations and was prepared to come to agreement despite some clauses that were not quite what the group would have preferred. SLM-Abdelwahid, however, was skeptical about security issues involving the timetable for the disarmament of the pro-government Janjaweed militia and their own forces. The Abdelwahid faction has split over the refusal to sign the peace agreement.

    JEM expressed concern over revenue sharing, infrastructure and services for the Darfur region, and demanded that a Darfur representative be appointed as the country’s third vice-president. The two current vice-presidents are divided between the ruling National Congress Party and the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM).

    “No doubt, there is more to do to achieve the lasting peace we hope for, but by building on this agreement I hope that we can ensure that the millions of refugees and IDP’s (internally displaced persons) can safely return to their homes,” Smith said. 

    The Darfur peace accord calls for the Janjaweed to be disarmed and rebel fighters to be incorporated into the Sudanese army. The agreement also calls for compensation for the nearly two million displaced persons in Darfur and establishes a regional representative (with the authority of a Vice President but not the title). Finally, the three Darfur provinces would be combined into one province under popular rule, if approved in a referendum.]

    “No matter how positive an agreement may sound for Darfur, we must continue to be vigilant concerning its implementation,” Smith said, pointing out that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement remains to be fully implemented. Smith called for United Nations involvement to help guarantee the implementation of both peace accords in Sudan.